Psalm 13:1 "How Long, O LORD?", Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There!

Thank you for stopping by! Whether you are enjoying summer or a completely different season across the globe, I hope you are staying comfortable. Here in Southern New Mexico, the heat is no joke. I’ve been fleeing the heat by going indoors by 10:00 AM, stepping out only for my absolute favorite things: my reading and fiber arts groups.  Well, I also step out for my responsibilities like medical appointments and purchasing fresh produce. I’m drinking so much water I feel like my eyeballs are floating!

I also have a big milestone coming up: my gallbladder surgery is in six days. I'm hoping it can be done laparoscopically so recovery has more of a chance to be a breeze. I have some wonderful quality time lined up afterward with my grandbabies—who range from 10 to 16, though they’ll never outgrow that title to me.

So, grab a cold drink (or a hot tea!) and enjoy this week’s recap.

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

"Make memories; it's later than you think."

HERE'S A WORD

I do my best to let the Holy Spirit lead my words and stay true to the Bible. But I’m human, and I’m definitely going to miss the mark sometimes. When I do, I just ask for your patience, grace, forgiveness and prayers! Pastor Jerry Mack Barnard from Clovis, NM used to encourage us to take notes and study his sermon.  I encourage you to do the same.  As you do, I pray God will bless your socks off!  

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible and make a list of them in my journal.  I'll follow the same format here. 

How Long, O LORD?

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD?

Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

2How long must I wrestle in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart each day?

How long will my enemy dominate me?

3Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

4lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes rejoice when I fall.

5But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;

my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

6I will sing to the LORD,

for He has been good to me.

Psalm 13

• He remembers us.
• He considers us.
• He responds to us.
• He gives light to our eyes.
• He's trustworthy.
• He's devoted to us.
• He saves us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
• He is good to us.

We can relate to David as he questions God in verse one.  "God have you forgotten me?  How long will You hide Your face from me?" I was there in 2025.  I even wrote a series for those who were thinking the same thoughts.  

God doesn't forget us.  How can He?  He has written us on the palms of His hands!   He will never forget us.  We are His children.  Rest easy in that knowledge.  

Even if we feel forgotten or ignored, remember:  Feelings are not facts.  They are simply feelings.  

Many years ago when we were youth group sponsers, I had the privilege of having a converstation with Tristen, one of the "wise beyond her years" youth.  We were talking about God carrying us.  She said, 

"When we're babies in the LORD, He carries us.  

When we're teenagers in the LORD, He holds our hand as He walks with us.  

BUT when we're adults in the LORD, He simply walks with us."  

I can't say for sure her words are in the Bible, but I can say that the message was clear:  God carries us, holds our hands or simply walks with us.  We don't need to feel God all the time, the fact is, whether we feel Him or not, He's with us.  He promises to never forsake or forget us, even if our earthly parents have.  

Please know this:  

You are loved.  You are not alone.  You are being lovingly prayed for.

FIBER FUN

I broke down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  FBF represents the Flower Box Friends BOM

Last Week's List

1.  Finish 

- at least one FoF hexagon Done!

2.  Focus 

- FoF applique Done!  I've made a bit of progress!

- For my evening crochet, I'll continue working on Grandson's #4 afghan Done!  I made significant progress!  

3. Prepare/make a kit

- for a Jalepeno Table Topper Done!

4.  Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health! 

This Week's List

1.  Finish 

- at least one FoF hexagon

- Grandson's #4 afghan just in time for his birthday!  

2.  Focus 

- FoF EPP/applique

- Now I'll focus on the Christmas Cowls I've been making.  

- Begin the jalepeno table topper

3.  Prepare/make a kit

- for Grandson #3 and #4's ornament

Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health! 

15 MINUTES TO STICH

I’m joining the Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch' challenge at Life in Pieces to  build the habit of machine sewing every day.  It's easy to find time for prep work or hand stitching, but making it to the machine consistently is where I need the extra push.  My numbers for last week were zilch!  It seems dismal, however, I am patient as my husband has been painting my sewing room and storage closet.  He ordered some Billy Shelves from Ikea, so machine sewing is on hold.  I may pull out my Featherweight and create a sewing area.  But, yay!  A sewing room makeover!

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week.

ereaderiq.com I'm starting to post these titles on Instagram on the day I acquire them as the deals are short-term.  I did not pick up books from ereaderiq, but here are two others I picked up.

***** René Peña-Govea's debut novel Estela, Undrowning surprised me with the depth of its subject matter. I wanted to weep, rage, and cheer for Estela Morales as she matured and learned her identity.

The title immediately drew me in as I asked, "What is making her feel like she's drowning? What does it mean to be 'undrowning'?" As I read, not only did I understand the issues, but I also realized that the same racist educational system my father and I grew up in tragically exists today. I started drowning, until I began living vicariously through Estela.

When a poetry contest to celebrate our beautiful Latino heritage is announced in Estela's exclusive high school, a non-Latino student wins the coveted $500 and Estela comes in second place. This tipping point in her life forces her to come to grips with several difficult issues. One is whether exclusive high schools should base their acceptance protocols on test scores or lotteries. Another issue is the curriculum in most schools—a biased curriculum that focuses on Caucasian history and literature, excluding people of color. Add in the complication of the Morales family's new landlord attempting to use legal bullying to intimidate and evict them. I could not believe this could happen, until I realized one of my own family members is going through a similar situation!

Estela responds to all these high-stress situations in a manner that at first makes it seem like all is lost—until it isn't. She makes many mistakes, but will they be her ruin? Or will she indeed start "undrowning"?  Highly Recommend.

  I express my gratitude to René Peña-Govea, HarperCollins Children's Books, and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to review Estela, Undrowning.

FINDING JOY

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use, like this one:  What are your fave flowers to grow or put in hanging baskets ?  My all time favorite flowers are geraniums of all colors.  For the last few years my garden has been sorely neglected.  I'm looking forward to prepping my flower beds and pots this summer and fall.  

My grandson has the most unusual desert plant!

I found these frozen leftovers steak strips, so I added 

the common three + one ingredients 

and made a delicious meal.

The three ingredients are

tomatoes, onion, fresh jalepeno and garlic.

Poor Chico, he's so scared of thunderstorms; he hid in the corner behind my chair.  

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

 🎶Here is a list of many of the songs🎶

I've shared on this blog.

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Stitching Stuff at Kate's Life in Pieces

Mondays

Mailbox Monday @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Tuesdays

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

Thursdays

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

    

This salvation card is from Truth for Kids.